EU's Moscovici plays down budget clash with Italy, says no decisions taken

European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Thursday that the dispute over Italy's deficit-hiking budget will take time to pan out. Speaking at a news conference in Rome alongside Italian Economy Minister Giovanni Tria, Moscovici said a letter sent by the Commission querying the 2019 budget was only the start of what could be a long process.

Tria said Italy would provide more in-depth explanations of their rationale for the budget law in the hope of closing the gap between the views of Italy and the European Commission over the budget law.